The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-20
Chill. Died Dec. 2, 1881, in the 45th year OF
his age"
GRIDLEYS FLOUR SACK.
How $4,000 was Raised in 1854 for the Benefl
af the FSalaierS.

One OF the curious incidents Of the war was
the phenomenal career OF Gridley and his sack
OF -four Reuel Colt Gridley, a native of Han
nihal Mo-, removed TO California in 1852 In
lS6l he settled in Austin, New. where he was
engaged in merchandising, and did prosper
Gus business. lie was a war Democrat and in
1864 made a wager that the Democratic candi-
date for Mayor Of Austin would be elected. lie
lost. and by the terms of the wager was TO buy
a sack Of -four for the winner and carry II
through the principal street of the place, dis
lance of mile aud quarter.
When the time came for paying the bet Mr..
Gridey appeared with the sack Of -four tied
with ribbons and decorated with flags. A vast
conc0urse OF people assembled and a procession
was formed headed by the city officials. These
were followed by brass baud, the winner of
the bet carrying Mr.. Gridley's hat aud cane,
and Mr.. Gridley with the sack on has shoulder,
accompanied Y his son, aged -, carrying a
Union dag. As the procession moved the peo-
pie cheered, steam whistles were blown, bells
rung and the best of good feeling prevailed.
When the end of the journey was reached,
after much good naturea badinage between the
members of the political parties Mr.. Gridley
proposed 10 test the grit of the people then
aud there. He suggested that the sack Of -four
be put up at auction and sold, and that whoever
the purchaser might be should pay the amount
bid and give the sack back TO be sold again,
all for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission.
The necessary arrangements were quickly made,
theauct!Oneer mounted a box and the sale began.
Mr.. Grldley himself was the first purchaser
and paid $500 Tor the sack. lt was then sold
again foI $500. So il went on until more than
3d. 900 in cash had been realized. The contagiOn
spread TO other places and Mr.. Gridley was in
vlted TO make tour with his sack of -four. At
Gold Hin, on May 10, his arrival created great
excitement and in a short time the sum of
S5.225 was realized from the sale OF the sack.
At Virginia City the excitement was still greater,
aud the first bid for the -four in that place was
$500. The total sales there were S22.000
Then Mr.. Gridley took hissack 10 Sacramento
and San Francisco, and the fund was so rapidly
augmented that il soon reached $4,000. Then
there came demand for Gridley and his sack
in the East, aud he took il as far as New York.
So successful was this wonderful enterprise,
that the money collected and turned over
by Gridley to the Sanitary Commission for the
benefit Of the soldiers reached the sum of $780,
0O0 During all this time Gridley paid his own
expenses adding 10 the fund every dollar that
was received from the sale of the -four. His
success in raising money has no parallel. al
though he impoverished himself aud after the
war he found himself in Stockton without a
dollar.
He removed 20 Paradise City, Cal. where he
died Nov. "a. 1870, in poverty. The members
of Rawlins Post, No. % GAR Department OF
California. at Stockton. in 1882 started project
To raise fund 10 place suitable memorial over
the grave Of MIR. Gridey. This has been ac-
complished aud monument dedicated, as re-
Gently described in The NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
The above brief sketch of what Mr.. Gridlcy
did TO entitle him 10 remembrance will be read
with interest.